Anvil have just announced a lengthy European tour that will see the Canadian trio treading the boards throughout the months of February and March ,starting off in the Netherlands with a date in Leiden on February 1st and finishing in Germany on April 6th in Siegburg.

UK and Ireland will be treated to fifteen dates from the Toronto Metallers, where Anvil will be kicking off the UK leg at London's Camden Underworld on February 6th and finishing at Weston-Super-Mare on February 23rd.

Anvil have just finished recording their seventeenth studio album in Germany which is to be titled 'Pounding The Pavement'

The band have set up a pledge campaign where you can order advanced signed copies of the album or even get the chance to rehearse or even dine with the hungry trio.

Anvil celebrate their 40th anniversary next year having formed in 1978 under the original name of Lips, a nickname that their charismatic frontman Steve Kudlow would affectionately adopt. Anvil released their debut album, 'Hard N' Heavy', in 1981 which was followed by the influential classic 'Metal On Metal' a year later.

Lips tells MetalTalk:

"We have thirteen songs which are as diverse in subject and tempo as all Anvil albums. We've begun a Pledge campaign which offers a number of different options and things to purchase. We're looking forward to the release at the beginning of the new year.

"Along with the release people can expect a full on tour which is something we can hardly wait to get underway.

"As far as the new title is concerned... it is a description of what Anvil has been doing for 40 years - endlessly working and making a living. We love what we do so it's not complaining, it's celebrating our long, amazing history."

Before jetting back home Anvil will perform two shows whilst they're in Germany with an appearance this week at the Fahrenholz Open Air on Friday 8th September followed by a gig in Andernach a day later on the 9th.

The band will then head off to South America to begin their 40th anniversary celebration with shows in September and October with dates in Brazil, Columbia, Ecuador, Chile, Paraguay and Mexico.

The band will then be adding more stamps in their passports with dates down under in Australia.